Each year in the land down under, while most of the world is still trying to figure out how to install batteries in their new Christmas gadget, an intrepid group of sailors heads South to the land of wombats for the Sydney Hobart Race. The day after Christmas may seem a strange time to be starting a yachting competition, but the sun is up 20 hours a day and folks from all over the world descend upon Sydney, Australia to test their skills against some of the world’s fastest – and certainly the largest – ocean racing thoroughbreds.
The course stretches over 600 miles across the Bass Strait and has caused many sailors to rethink their decision to even start. On a good year the 100’ maxis are finished racing less than 2 days later, sometimes a lot less. This race has always had the reputation as a gear buster and this year’s 80th edition lived up to the hype. Generally it takes a World War or Covid epidemic to prevent sailors from completing this course. This year nearly ⅓ of the 129 boat fleet ended up heading for safe harbor due to high winds and brutal seas.
[New paragraph]The Race Committee takes their job seriously. The safety requirements would sink a Cal 20. Each vessel must complete inspections by three different inspectors while hauled at a yard. The hull keel joint is examined, the rudder and bearings are surveyed and many more critical measurements are confirmed to ensure stability. Each competitor is required to have PLB and EPIRB in addition to a life jacket and harness no more than a year old with sales receipt to prove it.
The Richmond Yacht Club contingent, led by Commodore Jim Quanci (also Chief of 2027 PacCup and Commodore of the Singlehanded Sailing Society), Dave Garman and Andy Schwenk were ably assisted by fellow Yanks Valerie Buchholz, Greg O’Toole and Chad Stenwick. This crew of 6 joined Captain and owner John Wilkerson aboard the venerable Express 37 Perplexity for this epic jaunt. Interestingly this vessel was the only yacht flying the Stars n Bars to make it from the land of making sailing great again to the land of convicts, kangaroos, and koalas on her own keel. Did I mention he sailed to Australia single-handed? Even though this salty bunch of sailors had completed between them over 75 Trans Pacific crossings and dozens of other blue water passages, this was not enough to meet the strict safety protocols.
Perplexity slipped her mooring lines December 20th to complete the required 150 mile foray into the Southern Pacific whale pasture to check off another box on the required safety list. Bacchanal, sailing out of Tiburon, was the pride of the fleet on the American side. This vessel, owned by Ron Epstein and assisted by Corinthian Yacht Club’s Marcus Canestra, almost stepped to the podium for 4th in division and 8th overall. This was a fantastic effort by the team that has been slaying the Bay in his former whip of the same name. [I don’t know what this means, maybe explain]
Legendary Bay sailor Bill Colombo called the shots on the TP-52 Callisto and won their division in that ultra-competitive fleet. This vessel has been keeping her bow out from the trans Pac to the Great Lakes and this race was no different. To add a special accolade they did it with juniors aboard.
Rodney Daniels, North Sails’ guru hailing from Alameda, piloted Lucky, fresh off her victory in last year’s TransPac, to 2nd in division and nearly earned line honors.
Of course, everyone wants to know about Stan Honey and how his team on Palm Beach XI fared. This vessel has a system maybe comparable to an Erector set or Legos that allows them to add or subtract lifting foils and corresponding rating adjustment of course to optimize for predicted wind strength and direction. In this case the race was predicted to be an up wind bash, not exactly what the doctor ordered for the former Wild Oats. The lifting foils were stripped and stored less than 24hrs before the start and she crossed the line 5th.
No start compares to Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day. First of all, there are four starting lines. The Big boats start out near the harbor mouth while the slowest boats start deep in the harbor. In order to equalize the course length each fleet has to carry out into the ocean a prescribed amount [don’t really know what this means] to clear their assigned turning mark before hitting the right blinker [turn signal?] and clearing away south to Tasmania. The white wash from the spectator fleet turns the harbor into a washing machine. This year for the first time in memory competitors set their spinnakers and the harbor was awash in color, except for the lead bellied money guzzlers that chose carbon for everything. They even featured colorful advertising on their hull and sails. The finish is also made for the spectator with the vessels turning up the Derwent River for a finish in the heart of Hobart.
Law Connect, the line-honors winning, super-maxi led off the start, pushing over 20kts down the harbor. Even though their average speed was a paltry 12.8 kts they also had the pedal down at the finish sending it along over 20 kts again.s [I don’t think this should be a new paragraph, but I can’t figure out how to get rid of this paragraph symbol] As a side note, each yacht is required to pass by the committee boat just prior to the start with a storm jib and trysail set. These sails are designed for stormy weather, but interestingly, the mighty Law Connect had her bright orange storm jib set as a spinnaker staysail in her four-sail finish configuration.
Of course a tremendous round of applause for the champagne shower to San Francisco’s own Chris Lewis aboard the victorious Law Connect!
When SF sailors pack their sea bags they find their way onto the speedy boats and represent the vibrant sailing community here in the Bay. Don’t forget to take your Leatherman out of your carry on, ask me how I know, and the prudent traveler also prints out the TSA page that allows you to carry your lifejacket through security. Most TSA agents figure it’s some kind of parachute and get antsy.
Although the videos and commentators focus on the boats and the standings, the real memories are made aboard. Lessons are learned and relearned. It gives you serious appreciation for the Antarctic expeditions that passed through these waters heading for the Southern Latitudes: Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties and Shrieking Sixties. These winds travel around the globe unabated.
Our loan representative from the fairer sex, Valerie Buchholz, hailing from SF by way of Sandpoint, ID, shared her top twenty lessons which gives insight into life aboard:
- Using the head on the correct tack is critical.
- Pump the head prior to use, without looking in the bowl.
- Clorox wipes should not be confused with baby wipes.
- Bras are not required offshore.
- Old candy deep in your foulie pockets is salty but delicious, yes, even eat the wrapper.
- Always over-snug your lee cloth
- Foulies with plastic buckles will create buckle-shaped bruises.
- Cold and wet, even if the calendar says summer!
- Being the squirrel is a guaranteed saltwater shower
- Pulling a blanket over your head does not make you invisible.
- Someone will be hard of hearing
- Eat food that is easy to throw up.
- Even if you are a good whistler, don’t do it.
- Bioluminescence is magic, don’t explain the science to me.
- Dolphins always make me smile and clap.
- Having a tiny toothbrush is gold.
- Bringing daily supplements is silly, what day is it anyway?
- A sense of humor is imperative.
- Also a sense of urgency
- Watch out for flying tea pots.
The primary lesson I learned is that it’s difficult to fly internationally through three different airports with a female crewmate half your size sporting a black eye from a flying teapot. I needed a sign saying it wasn’t me, elevator silence is even worse.
